The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-30
THE PLAINFlELD INCENDIARIES.
How the Case Was Worked Up and the Gull
prits Captured-The Town Much Excited.
81 East Washinqton ST.

PLAINTIELD, n. j., Aug 29.-The seven cells
in the city prison occupied all day yester-
day and last night by seven members of the
Plainield volunteer fire department-Theodore
Van Ness, Lewis Van Ness, Horace Van Ness,
George Reed. Philip Hapenny, Robert Skinner
and John Jackson. The prisoners were arrested
between and o'clock yesterday morning, &C.
cused of having been the originators of the hun
dred or more incendiary fires that have taken
place in the city during the last ten twelve
years. About year ago numerous did the
fires become that the Board of Fire Underwrit-
ers, of New York, sent two Pinkerton detectives
to Plainfeld to ferret out the cuprits. Four
mon this afterward the Common Council offered
a reward of 81. 900 for the capture and conviction
of the guilty persons Then the police commit
tee of the Council employed Edward
Murphy to run down the incendiares
Mr.. Murphys first move was to secure a
job in the Scott printing press-works. Then he
made himself solid with several of the boys en-
ployed there. and was introduced by them to
friends in the fire department. where MIR. MUIR
ply suspected the culprits would be found.
Wednesday night being pay night at the factory,
all the boys would be on hand at Fred Casper's
beer bottlng establishment and saloon, in Sec
ond street. and there they would meet the fire
night. popularity of these Wednesday night
meetings was that there would almost in variably
be an alarm of fire about mdnehs. and the
gines would be called out. Every body in Cas-
per's would run to the fire, have good time,
drink the free beer that patriotic citizens would
set up. Murphy proved himself hale fellow
we'll met, and it was not long before he was
elected member of engine company
No. 2, whose house is in Front
street, near Grove He was soon ad-
mitted TO all the secrets of the company,
and in less than month he was convinced that
the majority of the fires were started by mem
bers of the company Just for the fun of the
thing" He communicated what he had learned
to Chairman Carey, of the police committee and
it was decided to set trap for one of the fire.
men and capture him in the act of setting fire to
a building. The result, it is said, is even better
than had been expected John jackson, a mem
Der of company No. ]. was the man selected to
work upon. Murphy proposed to him on Friday
evening that little bonfire be built some where.
Jackson fell into the trap. house Grant
avenue, owned by Frazer & Lee Bros, and oc-
cupied by Frazer, was selected to be fired. and
o'clock Sunday morning was the time set.
Murphy. Saturday morning. informed the
committeeman. Carey. of the plan. and the lat
ter agreed to be on hand and arrest jackson In
the act. About midnight jackson and Murphy
started for the house. carrying with
them couple of boxes of
matches and quart bottle OF kerosene OIL
spilled the oil on the back steps leading into the
kitchen OF the house. Carey was on hand, and
he sneaked up behind jackson just as he drew
box of matches from his pocket and set fire to
the saturated woodwork. In q trice handouts
were snapped on his wrists and he pris-
oner. Then Murphy busted himself smothering
the fire on the steps before it should gain head
WY. This done, coach called and the
prisoner and mis- captors started for the police
station. Before they had reached it. Jack ckson, it
is alleged, made confession duplicating twelve
other membe of the company and two we'll
known citizens. Whether this is so or not Carey
refuses to say, but the fact that six
other arrested in less than half an
hour after the arrival of the prisoner at the sta
ton gives C color of truth to the story. Theo-
dore Lewis and Horace Van Ness were found at
the engine house Reid was found at homo and
in bed, Hapenny in North Plainfield, and Skin
ner near the police station. None of them was
told what he was arrested for until he was safe
ly behind the cell doors. When the fact of the
arrests was made known in the morning there
was tremendous excitement in the city, and
crowds soon gathered around the station-house.
Special police were called out aud were kept
busy all day. All over the city were gathered
knots OF ten twelve, who excitedly discussed
the matter Never in the history of the city
were people more completely taken by surprise
than BIZ these arrests.